Depression Grand Challenge

When the Depression Grand Challenge first launched in 2015, the dissemination activities focused heavily on raising awareness about depression and addressing stigma associated with depressive disorders. It was our firm belief that if we couldn’t talk about depression as a society, we would not have the ability or resources to invest in research or to address treatment barriers. We described this portfolio of work as the “Awareness and Hope” component of the Depression Grand Challenge.

This portfolio of work included in-person and social media campaigns, pop-up promotions, and various online events, primarily carried out by the staff in the Research Enhancement Office (central Grand Challenge team) before the Depression Grand Challenge became its own department.

Beginning in 2019, the DGC established and convened an Action and Research Team comprised of experts from across the country to develop goals and objectives to increase the understanding the negative stigma associated with depression and actions to address these issues. The idea was to shift from a general promotion emphasis to one grounded in research for why there was stigma and what strategies worked. By 2020, the group had coalesced on a specific gap in the space: the need for a central resource and hub for academics and practitioners to identify and implement prevention and treatment interventions in various contexts. This gap catalyzed the best practices objective within the dissemination priorities. 

While DGC objectives no longer focus on stigma reduction efforts, this page serves as a record of two significant UCLA awareness and hope activities carried out to reduce negative stigma and to increase awareness about the DGC. 

Turn Blue for Hope Campaign
Shortly after its October 2015 launch, the central Grand Challenges team initiated a campaign encouraging people to show the world how they were #blueforhope and supporting the 250M people worldwide who suffered from depression. Team members dyed their hair blue and engaged in various strategies, including reserving a booth at the Rose Bowl to engage with UCLA fans and alumni.

The central Grand Challenges team created significant programming in Spring 2017 in honor of the 2017 WHO World Health Day which focused on depression. WHD is April 7, and marks the anniversary of its founding and to mobilize action around a specific health concern that affects people globally. The focus of World Health Day in 2017 was “Depression, let’s talk.” UCLA activities included:

• Developing a #DepressionHero social media campaign
• Hosting Facebook Live sessions with DGC selected #Depression Heroes including entrepreneur and investor Brad Feld, University of British Columbia President Santa Ono, former Laker Metta World Peace and actress Glenn Close.
• Comissioning a student-designed interactive art installation, “Expanding Dialogue” as a physical manifestation of conversation at UCLA. Created by Art graduate student, the piece invited passersby to physically add to the conversation piece-by-piece. Participants shared thoughts in written or sketch form on pieces of corrugated plastic available on-site, and then fitted their pieces into the installation. To facilitate the creative process, colored pens, prompts and haiku tips are available on site. The work of art moved from the area outside of Royce Hall to the inside of Powell for three months, demonstrating the importance of discussing mental health and supporting each other in our community, well beyond World Health Day.

Let’s Talk: World Health Organization World Health Day Campaign
The central Grand Challenges team created significant programming in Spring 2017 in honor of the 2017 WHO World Health Day which focused on depression. WHD is April 7, and marks the anniversary of its founding and to mobilize action around a specific health concern that affects people globally. The focus of World Health Day in 2017 was “Depression, let’s talk.” UCLA activities included:

2019 Convening of Action & Research Team
In 2019, the DGC formed an action and research team (ART) to focus on gaps in understanding about stigma. The idea of a best practice hub and resource center was generated by this group.